MMAjunkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for February 2014

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMAjunkie takes a look at the best knockouts from Feb. 1-28. Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Month” award for February 2014.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice for “Knockout of the Month.” And it’s probably worth noting that Dong Hyun Kim’s impressive finish of John Hathaway took place on March 1 and appears a lock to appear on that month’s list.

THE NOMINEES

Abel Trujillo def. Jamie Varner at UFC 169Abel Trujillo (12-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) opened the UFC 169 main card with a bang as he scored a spectacular knockout of well-traveled veteran Jamie Varner (21-9-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC). The two lightweights threw caution to the wind from the opening bell and just when it looked like Trujillo was going to be put away at the midway point of the second round, he unleashed a spectacular right hand that landed flush on Varner’s chin, sending him crashing face-first into the mat.

Erick Silva def. Takenori Sato at UFC Fight Night 36
Takenori Sato (17-9-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) quite literally had nothing to offer Erick Silva (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 36. The UFC newcomer was obliterated by Silva in a mere 52 seconds, failing to land a single strike while he hugged a leg out of desperation and ate a flurry of massive punches before referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in and called the fight.

Cosmo Alexander def. Rey Trujillo at Legacy FC 28
In a battle of striking specialists, Cosmo Alexandre (6-1) delivered a highlight-reel finish of Rey Trujillo (14-13) at Legacy FC 28. Trujillo (perhaps foolishly) elected to stand and trade with the muay Thai specialist from the start, and it would cost him. Late in the frame, Alexandre grabbed a Thai clinch and delivered a stunning short elbow to the temple before driving a massive knee up the middle that sent Trujillo crashing to the floor. Punches followed, but the damage was already done, and the fight was waved off at the 3:38 mark of the first.

Erik Koch def. Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 170
Erik Koch (14-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) returned to the lightweight division with a statement victory over Rafaello Oliveira (17-8 MMA, 2-6 UFC) on the UFC 170 preliminary-card. “New Breed” wasted no time finishing the fight as he put Oliveira down with a straight left just over a minute into the round and finished his foe with a serious of extremely accurate shots on the mat.

Stephen Thompson def. Robert Whittaker at UFC 170
Stephen Thompson (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) proved why he is considered to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the welterweight division with a highlight-reel knockout of “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Robert Whittaker (11-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC). While he’s mostly known for his kicks, “Wonderboy” used pinpoint accuracy with his hands to stop Whittaker in his tracks for his third-straight UFC victory.

* * * * *

THE WINNER

Abel Trujillo def. Jamie Varner at UFC 169

One could argue Abel Trujillo’s game plan for his UFC 169 with Jamie Varner was as reckless as it was effective. Varner put the 30-year-old Blackzilian in no shortage of troublesome positions for the first half of the fight, and it was often Trujillo’s own over-aggression that got him in trouble.

So what exactly was his game plan for the fight, which he entered as a small underdog?

“Man, I don’t have a game plan,” Trujillo told MMAjunkie after the event. “I just go in there just to fight, and I don’t fight to a decision. I fight to finish.”

Trujillo has used the non-strategy strategy in the past, and it’s worked to the tune of eight stoppages in 12 career victories. It worked again against Varner, but the real question is, should he keep tempting fate and risk a devastating defeat?

“My heart and my killer instinct,” he said. “I’m glad the referee didn’t stop it. He literally had to knock me out, and that wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to shell up or tap out, so it is what it is. I just kept fighting like a true fighter would, and I came out on top.”

The combination of perseverance and utter violence displayed by Trujillo earned “Knockout of the Night” honors at UFC 169 and was impressive enough to be deemed MMAjunkie’s “Knockout of the Month” for February 2014.

ALBANY, N.Y. – MMAjunkie is on scene and reporting live from today’s UFC Fight Night 102 event at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., which kicks off at 5:45 p.m. ET (2:45 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.

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